Monmouth women protest judge's divorce decisions, call for removal

Courtesy of FacebookSuperior Court Judge Paul X. Escandon was the focus of a Monday morning protest in front of Monmouth County Courthouse in Freehold Borough because of accusations that he is biased against female litigants in divorce cases.

FREEHOLD - More than 40 women sounded off against a Monmouth County Family Court judge Monday, claiming he favors men in divorce cases.

While standing in the crisp fall air, the women held up signs reading "End Corrupt Courts" while protesting the actions of Superior Court Judge Paul X. Escandon for what they saw as an insult added to injury.

"[Judge Escandon] gave my ex-husband $3,700 without a trial, and he said that if I did not pay it, he would sign a bench warrant for my arrest, which he did," said Kristen Williams, 47, of Colts Neck, who recently divorced her husband. "I turned my myself in, rather than have them come and have me arrested ... all for a lousy $3,700 that was never proven that I owed anyone. I'm sorry, but I'm very angry. He's harmed the lives of many women and many children. It needs to end."

"Our divorce agreement said that my son is allowed to have his college education, but he had to drop out because [Judge Escandon] emancipated him and said that my ex-husband didn't have to pay tuition," said Kris Neiss, 60, of Manalapan. "Then I was told to pay my ex-husband's attorney fees, even though I've been representing myself for four years. I have no money to pay his attorney fees, so I'm probably going to be arrested. The judge is supposed to enforce the laws, not make the laws."

"Because of this judge, after 39 years of marriage, I will be rendered homeless," said Karen Hollender, 61, of Morganville, her hands shaking as she held up a protest sign. "[Escandon] doesn't care what the women have to say - he uses whatever the men's lawyers have to say as fact. My husband owes me $79,000 dollars in support, but instead Escandon exonerated him, took him off probation and said that he doesn't have to pay for any health care costs, past, present or future. I was a good wife and mother, and I don't deserve this."

Other women at the demonstration expressed concerns that because of financial constraints imposed as a result of Escandon's divorce decisions, the burden of economic support for the affected families now falls on their elderly parents.

"My daughter has been using my money to live on, to buy groceries and to pay her bills," said Gloria Weiss, 82, of Marlboro. "She has glaucoma and now her eye doctor is suing her because she owes them a bill which her husband didn't pay. So the collection agency went into my account to get the money. And all that goes into that account is my Social Security."

Judge Escandon did not return a phone call seeking comment about the allegations made against him.

Several of the women at the protest noted that they had appealed to local state Senator Jennifer Beck (R - Red Bank - 11th Legislative Dist.) and Assemblyman Sean Kean (R - Wall Township - 30th Legislative Dist.) for assistance regarding Escandon's divorce court decisions. Neither Beck nor Kean, the sponsor of two pieces of legislation regarding alimony and child support, could not immediately be reached for comment.

If allegations of judicial misconduct are found to be valid by the committee, court rules allow for a variety of sanctions, including suspension or removal.

Tamara Kendig, a spokeswoman for the state judiciary, noted that the committee has yet to file a complaint against Escandon. She also said that committee investigations are confidential until the committee files an official complaint against a judge.

For Kristen Williams and the other protestors present in front of the courthouse, the time for official action against Escandon is now.

"Divorce is hard enough as it it is, but some of these women are now living out of their cars," Williams said. "[Escandon] takes away their alimony. He takes away their child support. He takes away their children. I know it's very hard to remove somebody from the bench, plus I believe there is corruption here. But what Gov. Christie needs to hear is that this judge needs to be removed from this bench now and stop harming the lives of children and women any longer."